MANILA, Philippines — After beating Australian Michael Katsidis on Saturday, Mexican boxing champion Juan Manuel Marquez said he has become more keyed up for a possible third bout with Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao.
“Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao, I sound like a broken record already,” Marquez said in the post-fight press conference. He wore a shirt that stated, “I beat Pacquiao twice,” according to Philboxing.
The boxer asked for a third fight immediately after he retained his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight titles against Katsidis in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
He now boasts of a record of 52-5-1, including 38 knockout wins.
In the press conference, Marquez reiterated his call, saying he should be the next challenger to the 8-division champion Pacquiao.
“Yes, he beat bigger fellows but they are all past their prime while I beat younger and stronger boxers like Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis,” he claimed.
The boxer said he will fight Pacquiao if the latter agrees to fight at 140 to 142 lbs.
“I know he can make that weight as when he fought Margarito, he was just 144 lbs. So if they insist in fight at 147, like Freddie Roach has mentioned, they are again giving excuses,” he said.
Pacquiao's Hall-of-Famer coach had said that the boxing superstar will only fight next in the welterweight division. He said the Filipino boxer seems more "comfortable" weighing at 147 lbs.
Pacquiao himself also dumped Marquez’s challenge, saying that the bout will be short of pay-per-view audiences. He added that he will pick former world champion Shane "Sugar" Mosley instead because of his larger fan base.
Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw in their first bout in May 2004. The Mexican kissed the canvas thrice in the bout.
Pacquiao then won via split decision in their rematch 4 years later.
The Filipino boxing icon, who last fought at 144.6 lbs against the 150-lbs Antonio Margarito, has also been anticipated by boxing fans to face the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.
On the other hand, Mayweather Jr. has legal problems after reportedly beating up his former girlfriend Josie Harris.
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